I had Fuji apples for lunch today, although they are not nearly as crisp and fresh as they once were when they were picked last fall. In fact, a few of them had rotten parts that I had to cut around, but they were very sweet. I wil miss eating fresh local apples this summer, although I can’t wait for local strawberries, blueberries, melons, and other delights that will soon be replacing them as my lunchtime meal. I have always loved apples. I remember when I was a little girl my grandmother would have bags of McIntosh apples delivered to her side kitchen door by “the fruit man.”. I would look up at her and say “apple apple apple” and she would then lovingly peel and slice some of them for me as a snack. I couldn’t get enough of them and they remain one of my all-time favorite foods. Today I had about 5 apples for lunch. I ran out of time before an appointment so I ended up having to take them with me and eat them in the car.

Apples have about 100 calories each and are great for quick energy. 5 apples have over 50% of the RDA for Vitamin C as well as a whopping 20 grams of fiber. Just don’t eat the seeds which contain cyanide. Yikes! Despite the toxic seeds, apples are one of the healthiest foods ever created. For more nutritional facts about apples, see http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/267290.php.

For breakfast this morning I ate one personal-sized watermelon. I decided to wear my melon wolf shirt in honor of my choice of breakfast. Before eating my melon I drank 32 ounces of water with 2 TBSP of lemon juice added. I typically purchase http://www.santacruzorganic.com/products/100-juices/100-lemon-juice because it’s quicker and more economical than buying and squeezing lemons every day.

Mini watermelons are great. They weigh on average about 4 lbs and a whole melon has about 400 calories. One melon contains over half of the daily recommended amounts of both vitamins A and C as well as potassium, calcium and iron They have 7 grams of protein and no fat or cholesterol. They are good for the eyes and the immune system and the digestive tract. They are a sweet, satisfying, and refreshing start to my day and I eat them for breakfast at least twice per week.

I am also including a picture of the shamrock on my kitchen windowsill. This little shamrock belonged to my great-grandmother and I acquired it in 1989. When the flowers fall they can be planted and they will grow into more shamrocks. The leaves and flowers get bigger as they are given more room to grow, so a large potted shamrock will have much bigger leaves and flowers than my small shamrock, but will probably not be as loved.

I typically eat organic raw fruit for both breakfast and lunch because it digests easily and gives me a huge amount of energy. Regarding portions, if I am eating fruit as a meal I will eat the following amounts, with the goal being for each meal to consist of between 400 to 600 calories worth of fruit.

6 to 8 bananas

20 pitted medjool dates

8 apples

8 oranges

11 tangerines

11 kiwis

1 mini-watermelon

1 lope

1 honeydew

4 mangos

1 pineapple

6 cups whole blueberries

8 cups whole strawberries

If I combine fruits with one another I always make sure that they are combined properly for optimal digestion. Melons should always be eaten alone. Keep in mind that if your digestive tract is healthy, melons should digest in less than 30 minutes. Bananas can be combined with dates but not with other fruits. I often eat bananas and/or dates if I’m in a hurry because they can easily be eaten while on the go with very little mess – just don’t forget to bring a bag for the peels and don’t leave the peels in your car on a hot day. Dates keep well even in extreme temperatures so I always keep a mason jar of them in my glove compartment or console.

From as far back as I can remember, I struggled with migraine headaches, allergies, chronic fatigue, digestive problems, skin issues, weight control, mood swings, and other unpleasantness. But now, at age 47, I feel better than I did in grade school – thanks to adopting a diet of ultra-low fat and cholesterol-free foods which are naturally high in carbohydrates. I have been an attorney for over 21 years. As an attorney, it has been my job to identify problems and then use research and logic to solve those problems in a manner most advantageous to my client. I believe the same method can be used to choose which foods to eat. First, identify health problems you are currently experiencing. Second, do research as to how certain foods may be causing or contributing to those problems and how other foods may stop or reverse those problems. Third, stop eating foods that cause illness and start eating foods that stop or reverse illness. I have spent hours, days, weeks, months, and years researching the best foods to eat to maintain optimal health. I intend to share with you the healthy changes I have made, the reasons why I made those changes, and why you may want to consider making similar changes in your life.